injuries

Well, February is almost gone already. We just finished up a one-day getaway to Palm Springs with friends to celebrate Kenny B's 40th birthday. We stayed one night at the Viceroy- had a good dinner, cocktails and lots of laughs. Things got a bit out of control as the evening wore on- too many drinks!

We enjoyed a 4 day weekend in Las Vegas with the Colorado Nugents- we went out to see Quin's gymnastics meet. We did lots of fun things with the kids- the LIED children's museum, a jumping/trampoline place, the adventuredome at circus circus. Lots of activities to keep everyone moving. The last morning when I was packing up the room alex fell off the bed and bashed his face into a corner of a granite end table between the two beds. It was just awful. Sophie was out with her grammy and geoff had already left for the airport. There was not much blood but he got 2 bad cuts. They have healed fairly well and I have been putting on Vitamin E at night to try to prevent scarring. We will see what happens.

A week ago I took the kids in the jacuzzi with Brett. Sophie got out, took off her suit, and I noticed a lump near her groin/pelvic area. Took her to see Dr. JJ and she probably has a hernia. JJ said her inguicanal tubes did not close off properly and so things can drift in and out, intestines, etc. She will almost certainly need laproscopic surgery. I am not too upset about it- I mean, this is hereditary, Geoff had 2 hernias at age 5. Geoff however, is completely furious and blames this on not being supervised when she uses her pull-up bar in her doorway. He said he KNOWS when she got it- the day she awkwardly put her leg over the bar and said "OW! I hurt something Dad." Hm. I take the blame- I thought the bar was a great idea for burning energy, but I was wrong. She hurt herself and now that is my fault. I do feel bad but I am human, I made a mistake.

This is Jessica's last week. I am truly sad for my kids- for her not being in their lives anymore. I am so hoping that Caitie, our new nanny will work out well. I know she will bring her own special energy. I think it is still natural to feel this as a loss and I hope the transition won't be too hard.

I wanted to take Sophie to Disneyland today- our passes expire in early March- but I just could not quite summon up the energy and have thrown myself instead into spring cleaning - trying to deal with my nightmare kitchen counter and dresser top- getting rid of clothes and papers and bits of toy trash cluttering up my head. I hope to get the kids back for one more trip with my mom and sister. I will probably renew the passes in a year or so, after a little breathing room. There will be a few new great attractions opening in California Adventure the end of this year. The Little Mermaid ride, Cars land, etc.

I am so achy this past week. I wake up stiff and I think I am coming to realize that 40 is truly around the corner and this is probably how life will be.

Sophie and Alex are getting along famously. He is her little muse- she decorated him with a dozen bandaids this morning, and covered him in washable markers last night as I posted some palm springs photos to facebook.

Alex won't keep his pants on and seems ready to potty train, but not quite. Last night he stripped down naked, then did a nice firm lump of poop in the tub. Close, bud! Over the last couple of weeks he has much more complete sentences and is expressing himself very well. He knows Jessica is leaving and I am not sure how he will be affected- they are very attached.

Sophie Bean is completely attached to writing her name and practicing a few other laters- coloring like crazy. She seems really compelled to be using writing instruments and giving her 100 piece puzzles a rest for the moment. My mom got her a leapfrog writing tablet for christmas and she loves to use it. She practices writing upper and lowercase letters and practices shapes. It is good because it shows her where to start each letter, etc.

Trying to keep up with the bills- paying off Alex's last ER visit and now Sophie's surgery coming up. Cabo is in April too...money, money, money...

saturday morning

everyone is still asleep.

I was supposed to go to a seminar/lecture on sibling rivalry this morning. But, Uncle Brett could not come watch Alex - though he had agreed to (needs to get his BMW window repaired) and it is dads and grandpas day at the weekday school during the same time. Geoff and Sophie are going to make pancakes and a woodworking project as they did last year. They can't bring Alex, and if they did, Geoff would not be able to really focus on being with Sophie and doing the projects. So, there goes the lecture. I emailed the speaker, a family therapist, to see if she has an email list for future lectures and if so to please add my name. Cest la vie. Glad I did not pay on the website when I registered to go!aan

The sun is finally out after a solid week of rain. We are supposed to get two days of sun and then another storm system is moving in. there are awful landslides in la canada and flintridge where this past fall's fires occurred- and of course tons of flooding all over, but I know our earth here in LA is just parched for a good long drink. I am happy it has been here- after it clears there will be beautiful patches of green all over the hills behind our neighborhoods here, the ground will have a wonderful cool dampness for a while once our warm days return.

Interviewed two new potential nannies this week- they both seem like really good people and were very charmed by the kids. Alex and Sophie liked both of them and were very friendly right away- I guess this is a testament to the 2 parent household and the very loving nanny they have right now. I have made clear that they are both super physical kids, active and love affection. This last week has been a good one with them getting along. His communication just keeps getting clearer, and she is moving forward with really making a playmate out of him. Yesterday she dragged her big white comforter to the playroom couch, had me draw three fluffy clouds on white paper. She then cut them out herself (loves cutting and tape right now) and then taped them to the blanket. She said they were going to perform a rain dance, but they never quite got to it...

on with the day. everyone is up- rice krispies have been eaten (jumbos for sophie, regulars for alex) and they are watching a little bear story - just one segment before they go make the last 30 minutes of the preschool dad's event.
Oh well...